TO THE young, aspiring boxers at the Palm Beach Boxing facility, coach Charles Mooney is royalty not just for the way he teaches but for what he accomplished in his own youth as a 1976 Olympic silver medallist. Mooney was part of a US boxing team regarded by many as the greatest in Olympic history, producing five gold medal winners, a silver and a bronze.
Of the five gold medallists, four of them – Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks, Leon Spinks and Leo Randolph – would go on to win world titles as professionals. The other, Howard Davis, would never reach that pinnacle but boxed for a ‘world’ crown on multiple occasions. The bronze medallist, John Tate, would win also claim a ‘world’ belt. As for Mooney, he didn’t even try, deciding to retire right after the Olympics. Yet he has outlasted all of his Olympic teammates by still maintaining a healthy involvement in the sport at the age of 73, by doing what he loves best: training fighters.
The gym is located in a small strip mall, but it’s an impressive facility inside. As I enter, Mooney is in the ring working the pads with one of his boxers. He sees me, reaches over the ropes for a quick fist bump and then gets back to work. I am enjoying watching the activity in the ring where the various boxers are going through their paces and I’m in no rush, but Mooney sees me standing still with
